Interior/Exterior painting the moldings!
#1
Join Date: Jan 2006
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#2
#4
yes...painted arches are the best...here's mine
BEFORE
AFTER (woo hoo!and yes I know mine is pink too...it's not the same pink we swear)
I love having painted arches because I can just wash them with the rest of the car rather than have to go back and put tire shine on them so they don't look grey. They also don't collect dust! Just remember if you paint your arches you need to make sure they are NEW arches that have never had an tire shine or products on them or the paint will chip and flake. I suggest just ordering all new ones.
BEFORE
AFTER (woo hoo!and yes I know mine is pink too...it's not the same pink we swear)
I love having painted arches because I can just wash them with the rest of the car rather than have to go back and put tire shine on them so they don't look grey. They also don't collect dust! Just remember if you paint your arches you need to make sure they are NEW arches that have never had an tire shine or products on them or the paint will chip and flake. I suggest just ordering all new ones.
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#15
#16
Originally Posted by hexproject
STOOPID GIRL.. So i should get new ones? even tho it's a brand new car? i plan to take it in within the first 100 miles... so i don't have to worry about it later on.. thanks for all the pics!
as for the body shop... they should use a filler/primer to make the arches SMOOTH before painting. that will help keep the paint from flaking off... and the chips arent as bad... (but rock chips DO happen, so make sure you get some touch up paint!)
edit* or clear bra the front black! id LOVE to do this!
#17
FutureQueen and Stoopid Girl - I am soooo jealous! LOVE the pink MINIs!!! I've never seen the gloss black fender flares but it looks fantastic!
McL - I've checked with one of our local shops (the most reputable here) and they say it can be done but it is lots of work to be done right. They also assure me that it should not chip or flake.
McL - I've checked with one of our local shops (the most reputable here) and they say it can be done but it is lots of work to be done right. They also assure me that it should not chip or flake.
#18
If this is an option for those who are interested you can PM Tuls and he can find out how much our guys will charge as well as the cost of ordering new ones (he knows everyone),so they can just be shipped rather than having down time without arches. Don't quote me on any of this you'd have to talk to him. Our buddies shop does amazing work and are the ONLY people we trust touching our MINIs, not to mention the owner is a MINI person as well. They've done My car, Tuls', TFQON's,Skinnee's,Deemotored's,Kalvin's,Scotts's (can't remember his handle) and I'm sure there are many more.
As for the paint chipping this is the first I've heard of it unless the job was done imporperly. I've had mine for 6-8 months and they still look brand new. Tuls has had his longer and they're barely scathed as well, only thing is the minor rock chips which are normal (especially since he drives REALLY fast...ALL the time) and they look better than the when the plastic gets chips making it look like the dog chewed on them. I would recomend painted archhes anyday, they have my seal of approval
As for the paint chipping this is the first I've heard of it unless the job was done imporperly. I've had mine for 6-8 months and they still look brand new. Tuls has had his longer and they're barely scathed as well, only thing is the minor rock chips which are normal (especially since he drives REALLY fast...ALL the time) and they look better than the when the plastic gets chips making it look like the dog chewed on them. I would recomend painted archhes anyday, they have my seal of approval
#19
#20
that looks sooooo good!
Originally Posted by shooler
Before
After
Sorry about the size of the 2nd pic....
Have a reputable shop do the work. It isn't a cheap process, but you definitely get what you pay for. Mine cost $675 in paint/labor for the arches and rear valence alone. Guarenteed work though.
After
Sorry about the size of the 2nd pic....
Have a reputable shop do the work. It isn't a cheap process, but you definitely get what you pay for. Mine cost $675 in paint/labor for the arches and rear valence alone. Guarenteed work though.
#21
I had 2 shops today refuse to do the work because they were afraid that the paint would flake off. One shop said that he would do it, but wouldn't warranty the work. One shop said that they could do it, but it was going to be 20+ hours of labor (at $30+ an hour) and would give a 3 year warranty.
The final place is one of the best paint shops in Dallas (all of the Lambo / Ferrari guys go there), but it is Hella expensive.
The final place is one of the best paint shops in Dallas (all of the Lambo / Ferrari guys go there), but it is Hella expensive.
#22
#23
Get the moldings painted....it is one of the best visual mods you can do to the outside of the car. I dont understand why the Factory doesnt have them done this way...but maybe they were trying to cut cost? i dunno....but anyways the car looks 100% better when they are painted.
A shop back in florida did mine for about $600 if i remember correctly. I also have euro wheel arches that deleted the lights in the moldings as well to give it a smoother look.
Here is a before and after of my car...The painting moldings make a HUGE difference, atleast to me.
these pics are old btw.
A shop back in florida did mine for about $600 if i remember correctly. I also have euro wheel arches that deleted the lights in the moldings as well to give it a smoother look.
Here is a before and after of my car...The painting moldings make a HUGE difference, atleast to me.
these pics are old btw.
#25
I working on doing this too, and $600 sounds cheap when you think about all what has to be done. Buy new moldings, sand, prep, clean, paint, clearcoat, etc. Mine will be well over $600 when everything is said and done, cause im getting all new molding, Aero side skirts and a Lumma Tunning bumper.